2015/03/25 by Demosthenes Kazanas, D. Kazanas, J. L. Racusin +5
Physics and Astronomy · #Afterglow #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Basis (linear algebra) #Distribution (mathematics) #Energy (signal processing) #Flux (metallurgy) #Gamma-ray burst #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Luminosity #Scientific Research and Discoveries #Value (mathematics) #astro-ph.HE
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0004-637x/802/2/83
published as Astrophysical Journal, 802, 83 (2015) · 12 pages, 5 figures, published in the Astrophysical Journal
openalex publication_date 2015/03/25 · arxiv created 2015/04/03 · arxiv updated 2015/06/24 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present the statistics of the ratio, , between the prompt and afterglow "plateau" fluxes of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We define this as the ratio of the mean prompt energy flux in Swift BAT and the Swift XRT one, immediately following the steep transition between these two states and the beginning of the afterglow stage referred to as the "plateau". Like the distribution of many other GRB observables, the histogram of is log-normal with maximum at a value , FWHM of about two decades, and with the entire distribution spanning about five decades in the value of . We note that the peak of the distribution is close to the proton-to-electron mass ratio , as proposed to be the case in an earlier publication, on the basis of a specific model of the GRB dissipation process. It therefore appears that, in addition to the values of the energy of peak luminosity , GRBs present us with one more quantity with an apparent characteristic value. The fact that the values of both these quantities ( and ) are consistent with the same specific model invoked to account for the efficient conversion of their relativistic proton energies to electrons argues favorably for its underlying assumptions.